On Saturday, my friend Jon and I visited what I now believe to be the best Warbler hotspot in the area – the Delaware Water Gap NRA Headquarters in Bushkill and Freeman Tract Road, which is nearby and follows the Delaware River. I’ve been reading previous eBird reports from this area and they were loaded with Northern Parulas, Cerulean Warblers, Hooded Warblers and more really good birds. We had to go check it out during prime migration. The trees are tall and the birds stayed up high for the most part, but that did not stop us from seeing good birds and having a great time.
We knew that it would be a good day when the very first bird we heard when we stepped out of the car was a Golden-winged Warbler. A life bird for Jon and my first time seeing one outside of Ohio.
This was another Golden-winged Warbler that we spotted later on
We birded around the Water Gap Headquarters waiting for the sun to peak through the clouds. The building overlooks a really nice marsh that is full of birds.
Blackbirds, Grackles, Swamp Sparrows and Rails love this habitat
Tree Swallows, Ducks and Warblers seem to be around this part
We found a couple of hot spots that provided loads of birds moving through the trees and brush around the water. Some of them came down low, but for the most part they were distant. We saw and heard 50 species around the marsh.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are abundant
Tree Swallows in a natural nest
Yellow Warbler near the marsh
Red-winged Blackbird displaying
American Robin on a log
Green Heron hunting in the reeds
After exploring a bit up the hill, we made our way down to Freeman Tract Road, with our windows opened. On our way down, we heard a bird sing in the trees and I instantly knew that is was one of our target birds – the Cerulean Warbler. We had a few of them singing in the one spot.
One of many Cerulean Warblers
Down the road, we stopped for a singing Hooded Warbler – another lifer for Jon. He was difficult to find, but we finally spotted singing at the treetops.
Hooded Warbler singing up high
Even though the birds were mostly up high and moving quickly, it was a great time. We had many great birds and really took our time getting down the road. Every time we stopped the car, there was something exciting to see.
Black-and-white Warbler going up a trunk
Blue-winged Warbler singing in the distance
The best photo I could get of this Northern Parula who was foraging off the road
We even caught a glimpse of a snake making its way through the leaves.
Garter Snake in the leaves
Best subject of the day goes to an Ovenbird that Jon found posing down low, showing off his crest.
Our best subject from the trip, an Ovenbird
I also finally got some decent photos of a male Parula.
One of the few Northern Parulas who posed
My bird of the day was still the Cerulean Warbler. It’s my favorite little Warbler and I was so happy to see so many of them in one place!
Last Summer, I went to Italy to visit family. I have been there before, but not as a birder. I used Birding Pal to find a local birder who may be able to take me around. Thankfully, I found a very kind birder and also met a couple other local friends of his. Since it was the middle of summer, we went looking for water birds. He took me around Castel Volturno, Riserva Oasi Dei Varicon and other areas to the north of Naples.
The first birds we saw were all Sandpipers – Common, Wood, Green – all of which look very similar to me! The most exciting early sighting was a Grey Heron. I was very happy to see the Eurasian counterpart to the American bird that I love so much!
Grey Heron with Eurasian Coots and Black-headed Gulls
The next location was full of Black-winged Stilts, Yellow-legged Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls, Little Egret and Moorhens. I also caught glimpses of a Eurasian Oystercatcher, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern. I did manage some [bad] photos of some of the birds.
Black-winged Stilts
Eurasian Oystercatcher with Mediterranean Gulls and Black-winged Stilt up front
Yellow-legged Gulls with Black-winged Stilts
Common Moorhens
We stopped at a beautiful spot, Riserva Oasi Dei Varicon, which brought us many more great waterbirds. Here, we saw Redshank and Greenshank, Kentish Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Little Stint, Shelducks, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck, Little Grebe and Sandwich Terns.
Sandwich Terns
Shelduck
Redshank and Greenshank
While driving around, I got better looks at some of the birds and saw many others that I did not get photos of suck as a Eurasian Kestrel, Crested Lark, Turtle Doves, Magpies and Night-heron. Some that I did get photos of are below.
Little Egret
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret with Cattle
Zitting Cisticola
We were staying in Sant Agata were I saw mostly common birds like the Italian Sparrow, Blackbirds, Eurasian Collared Dove and Hooded Crows.
Italian Sparrow
Eurasian Collared Dove
We took a tour to Pompeii and the Vesuvius and saw some other common birds such as swifts, Hooded Crows, Jackdaws and Magpies. The bird I was hoping to see, the Hoopoe, was no where to be seen even though they are known to breed in Pompeii.
Hooded Crow
Jackdaws
Common Swift
Alpine Swift
And on our way back home from that tour, we saw a beautiful Serin above the streets.
Serin (wild Canary)
Other birds were spotted around family’s property including Spotted Flycatchers and, one that I was very happy to see, the European Robin.
Spotted Flycatcher family
European Robin
We took a trip to Trieste to see cousins and were surprised with some good birds in the gardens. Even though these are common birds, I was very happy to see them! They were very attracted to the plum trees which made it easy for me to see them.
Eurasian Jay with a plum
Eurasian Jay
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Blackbird Fledgling
We also saw many colorful Chaffinches while out in the area.
Chaffinch
We made a last minute stop to Isola della Cona, South of Malfalcone. This reserve gave me the best surprise of the entire trip – a bird who was on my must see list that I did not think I would see – the European Bee-eater!
European Bee-eaters
The reserve itself was full of Camarague horses and Cattle Egrets who would hang out nearby.
Camarague Horse with Cattle Egret, Lapwing, Wagtail and Duck
Cattle Egret
Other great birds at this location included Northern Lapwings and White Wagtails. I never did have to go chasing any of the Lapwings who showed up on the east coast of the US since I already saw them here!
Northern Lapwing
White Wagtail
The reserve was also full of many birds I already saw, plus some new waterfowl.
Black-winged Stilt
Northern Shoveler
Mixed Ducks
Graylag Geese
Common Snipe
Black-headed Gull in winter plumage
Common Sandpiper
The sun was strong and heat made for poor far-away photos, but I am happy that I at least got these memory photos. The last good bird here was another common one that I was happy to see – the European Goldfinch.
European Goldfinches
Overall, I saw over 50 life birds, and even though I didn’t get to see a Hoopoe as I had wished, I really enjoyed the birds I did see!
